The guards stiffened at the sight of the gun. Their hesitation was brief, but Zack caught it, his pulse hammering as he took a careful step backward, pulling Bella with him.
The leader of the guards, a tall man with a sharp gaze, took a measured step forward. "Let her go. You can’t get out of here."
Zack let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "You think I don’t know that? You think I walked in here without a plan?" His grip on Bella’s arm tightened painfully. "She is coming with me. If you try to stop me, I’ll paint this floor with her blood."
The guards didn’t waver, standing their ground like an unbreakable wall. Zack’s breathing grew heavier. ’They won’t risk her, but they won’t let me walk out either.’
He needed another way.
His eyes darted around, searching, scanning—then landed on the elevator at the end of the hall.
Without another second of hesitation, Zack jerked Bella roughly and pivoted, dragging her toward the opposite direction. She stumbled, but he was relentless, pulling her along as he raced toward the elevator.
"Stop!" one of the guards called, but Zack was already slamming his hand against the button. The doors slid open, and without a moment’s hesitation, he yanked Bella inside with him.
Just as the guards lunged forward, the doors sealed shut.
Zack’s breathing was ragged as he hit the emergency stop button, trapping them between floors. He turned to Bella, his eyes wild with determination. "Don’t even think you can escape."
Bella swallowed hard, her heart hammering as she realized she was now completely alone with him.
Theodore had been enjoying the celebration, chatting with Philip—until he received a call, informing him about the incident.
"Sir, it’s Zack—He has taken Madam away."
For a split second, Theodore’s world stopped. A cold dread gripped his chest. Taken? His mind barely processed the words before fury exploded within him.
"That bastard. Don’t let him escape the building," he barked a command, dashing out the hall. "Seal the building. No one gets in or out. Lock every exit."
"Yes sir."
Within seconds, the entire building was locked down. The grand banquet hall doors slammed shut, trapping all the guests inside, their murmurs of confusion turning into worried chatter. Security swarmed every floor, moving swiftly.
Then, the police arrived, sirens wailing as officers flooded into the lobby, coordinating with Theodore’s men.
Theodore turned to another guard. "Where did they go?"
"We believe he took her upstairs, sir. Likely to the terrace."
Theodore’s blood boiled. "Let’s go there." He stormed toward the elevators, his heart pounding. ’Hold on, Bella. I’m coming.’
Zack brought Bella to the terrace. He dragged her forward, his grip bruising her wrist.
"Zack, please," she tried, her voice trembling. "You don’t have to do this."
Zack laughed bitterly, his eyes gleaming with obsession and madness. "Oh, but I do, Bella. You are the woman I love the most, but Theodore snatched you from me. Now, I am taking you with me. I won’t let anyone separate us."
He pulled her dangerously close to the edge, where only a thin railing separated them from the vast drop below. Bella’s breath hitched, fear gripping her as she realized just how far Zack was willing to go.
But before she could say another word, he spoke, "That Theodore doesn’t deserve you. He doesn’t love you. If he really did, he wouldn’t have kept his marriage with you a secret. I’m telling you, Bella, don’t trust that man. You will regret it."
"I don’t trust you," she grunted out, twisting against his hold.
"Listen to me." He grasped her shoulders. His hold was so tight that Bella felt as if her bones would crush.
A whimper escaped her lips, her features twisting.
"We used to love each other," Zack said desperately. "I showed you our engagement pictures, didn’t I? But Theodore snatched you from me. He wanted to destroy me and my business. Bella, you have to trust me."
"Enough," Bella snapped, pushing his hands away. "I may have lost my memory, but not my ability to judge people. I can tell who is being truthful and who isn’t. I can see who is truly loyal and sincere to me."
Her lips curled in disgust. "You say you love me, but is locking me up and keeping me away from my family your idea of love? You’re delusional, obsessed, and twisted. This isn’t love—you just want to force me to be with you."
Zack shook his head, desperate. "No, this is not true," he said, his tone softening. "I really love you, Rose. You are my life. I can’t live without you." He reached out to hold her hand.
Bella stepped back. "You make me sick," she spat. "I am not Rose. I am Isabella – Theodore’s Bella."
"No..." He roared. "You are mine – my Rose." He yanked her toward him.
Bella’s heart pounded wildly as Zack’s grip on her wrist tightened. The cold wind whipped through her hair, but it was nothing compared to the icy fear crawling up her spine.
She forced herself to stay composed, to think. Pleading was her only option. "Zack, please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Just let me go. I’ll talk to Theodore, I swear. I’ll convince him not to press charges. You don’t have to do this."
Zack let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. "You don’t get it, do you?" His fingers pressed into her skin with a possessive desperation. "I don’t care about Theodore, or the cops, or anyone else. All I care about is you, Rose. I love you. I love you more than he ever could."
Bella flinched at his words. His eyes burned with something dark, something dangerous—an obsession that had long since morphed into madness.
"You don’t need him," Zack continued. "I’ll take care of you, give you everything you could ever want. You’ll be happy, Rose, I promise."
She swallowed the bile rising in her throat. "You’re hurting me." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Zack’s expression twisted, pain flickering in his eyes before it was quickly replaced by something more sinister.
"You’ll understand soon enough," he murmured.
And before she could react, he leaned in and tried to force his lips onto hers.
Bella’s stomach lurched.
A surge of adrenaline shot through her, and she fought back with everything she had. She shoved at his chest, twisting in his grip.
"No!" she screamed.
Zack growled, tightening his hold, but Bella thrashed harder, managing to turn her face away just in time.
"Stop fighting me," he snapped, frustration seeping into his voice. He hugged her tighter, kissing her neck.
Tears stung Bella’s eyes, but she refused to give in. She kept struggling, clawing at his arms, trying to break free, but Zack’s strength overpowered hers.
Just as she thought she might lose this fight, a deafening voice cut through the chaos.
"Get your hands off my wife!"
Bella’s eyes flew to the terrace entrance, her chest heaving with relief and desperation.
Theodore.
A group of guards stood right behind him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
